I cannot think of two beings more aligned in their inner purpose, more joyous in their recognition of the divine spirit that unites them and more giving of that wisdom, joy and peace to everyone who comes their way. To two of my dearest, here's a wish that they may, forever, remain in glorious union, in constant celebration of the spirit that is at the center of their lives. May these words of Rumi echo in every moment of their togetherness...

This Marriage

May these vows and this marriage be blessed.

May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah.

May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm.

May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise.

May this marriage be a sign of compassion,

a seal of happiness here and hereafter.

May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,

an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.

I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.

-- Rumi

'The garden of love is green without limit

and yields many fruits other than sorrow or joy.

Love is beyond either condition:

without spring, without autumn, it is always fresh.'

- Rumi

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.

- Saint Francis De Sales

God Eavesdrops

What an opportunity two hearts have whenever they talk.

For when our words are loving, playful and encouraging,

God cannot help but eavesdrop even more than usual.

And then, of course, the odds increase on the divine being felt.

- Hafiz

IshAvAsyam idam sarvam

Divine interventions

And miracle coincidences seem to abound; I am only stunned by how many I might have missed by simply not opening myself out to receive them. Some, however, require no such effort; they are truly and explicitly just that and are handed to you on a golden platter. Many months ago, sometime last year, I had heard a lecture by a monk and had been struck by the ordinary circumstances and some not so ordinary, but extremely disturbing and saddening situations in his life through which he had realized the underlying truth of love and unity. At the time I inspired by the sense of peace that pervaded his being and the aura he seemed to radiate; an aura that brought some of that peace to permeate my being...
Last week as I struggled to embrace peace, I searched online for his lectures to find one that might speak specifically to this inner process of transforming angst to peace and acceptance. I found many inspiring talks on unconditional love of all and devotion to truth, yet not exactly the thing I was looking for. This afternoon, I find, two friends who remembered how moved I was by the Swamiji's presence, saved a copy of his autobiography he recently completed, for me. I am moved beyond words by this act of kindness and the divinity behind it.

Know, son, that everything in the universe

is a pitcher brimming with wisdom and beauty.

The universe is a drop of the Tigris of His Beauty,

this Beauty not contained by any skin.

His beauty was a Hidden Trasure so full

it burst open and made the earth

more radiant than the heavens.

- Rumi